Happy New Year!  I am looking forward to another year of potential and possibilities!

As we enter this year with optimism about the things which lie ahead, as well as the knowledge our Lord will lead and guide us, we also realize there will be moments of great challenge as we move forward.

One reason I enjoy the Word of God is that it doesn’t “sugar coat” the facts. While you and I appreciate the great victories in our lives, we must always remember that a victory is not really a victory without a battle! If I were to have people stand in 2 lines this coming Sunday at church with one of the lines representing those who would rather not have battles in the next year, and the other line filled with those who wanted to have battles,H I have a feeling the “non-battle” line would be a bit more crowded!

I have always been inspired by the words of Caleb of “Joshua and Caleb fame” in the Word as they were poised to enter the Promised Land after wandering with the unbelieving people for 40 years in the wilderness. He didn’t allow their unbelief and failure deter him from the promises of God, and the defeats of the past weren’t going to affect his faith about the future!

If you have a few moments read the following scripture and take a moment to compare it to what’s behind and what lies ahead.

And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in. Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”

May God richly bless you and yours in the New Year!